I know I could continue to spray my basecoats with my finishline and progress just as nicely, and become a better "sprayer" lol, but I like the idea of saving material with a higher end gun. That's all I was trying to get at with this thread.

.....but asking the same question 3 or more times wont get any better answers. You got several responses from folks besides me, an amateur, who are not only good, but gifted which I'm not. If you want better responses, well you aren't asking the right questions then, are you ?

Anyways, thanks to all that responded. I guess this discussion is closed now. I think I know what gun I am going to pick up. If anyone else has any personal experiences with a gun they would like to share feel free, but I wont be asking for anymore opinions on the subject, it appears those that matter have responded on the subject.

But saying someone isnt a "painter" because they don't own a certain type of gun is kind of a bull**** statement IMO.

Well, maybe to you it is bull-st but its his business and two years ago when we were on a trip, he told me his lowest paid painter was ave $1400-1700 a week, I guess he can make his own rules and hire the best of the best.

No real problem with this, as the painter with his Devilbus can always get a job down the street for $350-400 a week.

I guess it would be like Dale Earnhart getting his engines at auto-zone to save money, it would be penny wise and dollar stupid, to say the least.

Well as usual with anything else on an Internet forum, this thread has become dumb and basically drifted off of the original topic. I'm done. Again I appreciate most of the responses! I think I have a good indication of what gun I may be happy with if I choose to purchase it.

Picked up an Iwata LPH400 LVX for a rediculious price. I'm anxious to use it!

I just saw thsi post and it makes me feel much much better that I just picked up a Finishline III and plan on painting the base and clear with it. I really like the finsih on the car you shot with it.

Heres my opinion or I guess question. If I was to shoot 2-3 coats of good quality clear and plan on Buffing and polishing the Sh%^$%^$ out of it. Would the gun to shoot clear really,, really make that huge of a difference? Pardon if this is just a ridiculouis question but Im a beginner.

I know a shop has to flip a profit and maybe a quality gun will save many hours of work etc.. but..... I still havent heard a good rational answer for a DYI at home painter should dish out $300-400 more for a better gun. Maybe Im missing something?? Or if I paint 5-10 cars with a Finishline or Finex3000 wont that just make me a better painter when I use an Iwata???

There is absolutely nothing wrong with a FL3 gun - if you have all four tips. The Iwata's and SATAs just make it a lot easier - if you can afford that level of gun. The biggest advantage with me using an Iwata is the fact there is virtually no over spray plus the fact you can get by with a smaller compressor due to much lower air pressure and volume requirements.

I've lost the original chat on this subject while registering and wanted to add,
Regarding paint guns I use a Sata for base (we use Waterborne Sikkens) and it works great for me, I use an Iwata for clear, What I find with the Iwata compared to other guns is how well it atomizes todays thicker clears,night and day over any other gun I've used! but I find you have to really keep it clean and I always store my cap in thinners,(small passages) you just cant go wrong, beginner or professional (just my opinion)

Thanks .. know the responses I see make a lot more sense. To hear that it Atomizes better or far less overspray makes more sense than 'All professional shops use Iwata/Sata etc' or 'Will not hire a painter if they never used an Iwata/Sata etc..' Just doesnt clearly explain the difference etc.. Thanks a lot for the best explanation ive seen on the differences betwen a 'Lower quality gun' vs Higher quality

Ok, so I shot a car recently with my new LPH400lvx (orange cap). It didnt lay the mettalics as nice as my finishline IMO. I am going to shoot a golf cart here in the next few week the same color and use my finishline gun for my base and I'll compare the 2.

Ok, so I shot a car recently with my new LPH400lvx (orange cap). It didnt lay the mettalics as nice as my finishline IMO. I am going to shoot a golf cart here in the next few week the same color and use my finishline gun for my base and I'll compare the 2.

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